leafy · direct sow · beginner friendly
Mache (Corn Salad): how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating mache (corn salad) a few times a week needs about 160 plants in ~36 sq ft, worth about $64 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$4.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 40 | ~9 sq ft | ~80 | ~$16 |
| 2 people | 80 | ~18 sq ft | ~160 | ~$32 |
| 4 people | 160 | ~36 sq ft | ~320 | ~$64 |
| 6 people | 240 | ~54 sq ft | ~480 | ~$96 |
Spacing
4" in row · 8" between rows
Sow depth
0.25"
Days to harvest
50 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Mar 31 – May 8 | Jul 17 – Sep 5 |
| Zone 4 | Mar 26 – May 3 | Jul 27 – Sep 15 |
| Zone 5 | Mar 16 – Apr 23 | Aug 6 – Sep 25 |
| Zone 6 | Mar 6 – Apr 13 | Aug 16 – Oct 5 |
| Zone 7 | Feb 19 – Mar 29 | Aug 26 – Oct 15 |
| Zone 8 | Feb 8 – Mar 18 | Sep 16 – Nov 5 |
| Zone 9 | Jan 6 – Feb 13 | Oct 6 – Nov 25 |
| Zone 10 | Dec 17 – Jan 24 | Oct 16 – Dec 5 |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Cut whole rosettes at 2 to 3 inches, full size is small; that's the crop.
Yield
About 0.1 heads per plant over ~1 productive weeks (~0.1 lb). Re-sow every ~14 days for a steady supply instead of one glut.
Watch for
Aphids · Slugs & snails · Cutworms, the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
21 kcal · 38.2 mg vitamin C · 459 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Mache (Corn Salad) planting questions
How many mache (corn salad) plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 40 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 160 plants, which takes around 36 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does mache (corn salad) need?+
Space plants 4" apart in the row with 8" between rows. Sow 0.25" deep. Direct sow in the bed.
When should I plant mache (corn salad)?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. It also has a fall window keyed to your first fall frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing mache (corn salad) worth it?+
At about $4.00/lb retail and ~0.1 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $64 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.